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have you ever done something good and then felt like you earned the right to do something bad? this phenomenon is known as moral licensing, and it's a fascinating topic in the field of moral psychology. in this article, we'll explore how our moral decisions can be influenced by factors we're not even aware of, and how researchers are studying this concept in real-life scenarios.
what is moral licensing?
moral licensing is the theory that when we do something good, we subconsciously feel like we've earned a license to then do something bad. this can manifest in various ways, such as donating money to charity and then feeling justified in cheating on a test or lying to a friend.
studying moral psychology
studying moral psychology isn't always an easy task. researchers must balance the benefits of what they could learn with the safety and well-being of the people they study. surveys asking people what they think is moral don't always reveal what they would do in real life. an experiment that actually puts people in what feels like a real scenario may get more realistic results.
observing moral licensing in the wild
to observe moral licensing in action, researchers have designed experiments that put people in situations where they can do something good and then something bad. for example, in one experiment, participants were asked to donate money to charity. afterward, they were given a scenario where they could either take credit for a coworker's work or let the coworker take credit. those who donated money to charity were more likely to take credit for the coworker's work, demonstrating the concept of moral licensing.
the experiment
in a recent experiment, researchers took a beautiful park and, for the purposes of science, threw trash everywhere. they then hired unsuspecting actors who thought they were going to film a public service announcement about the park. the actors were asked to pick up trash and then were given a scenario where they could either take credit for a coworker's work or let the coworker take credit. those who picked up trash were more likely to take credit for the coworker's work, demonstrating the concept of moral licensing.
conclusion
moral licensing is a fascinating concept in the field of moral psychology. it shows how our subconscious can influence our moral decisions and how researchers are studying this concept in real-life scenarios. by understanding moral licensing, we can become more aware of our own actions and how they may be influenced by factors we're not even aware of.
additional resources
references
- moral licensing: how being good can license being bad
- moral licensing: when good behavior licenses bad
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